The chapter-house, previously to the revolution, contained
a tomb-stone[9], uninscribed and exhibiting only a
sculptured sword, under which it was supposed that
either Ralph de Tancarville himself, the founder of
the abbey, or his grandson, William, lay interred.
It is of the latter that the records of the monastery
tell, how, on the fifth day after he girded himself
with the military belt, he came to the church, and
deposited his sword upon the altar, and subsequently
redeemed it by various donations, and by confirming
to the monks their right to the several benefices
in his domain, which had been ceded to them by his
grandfather.—­Here then, I quit you:
in a few days I shall have paid my devotions at the
shrine of Jumieges:—­meanwhile, in the language
of the writers of the elder day, I close this sheet
with.

EXPLICIT FELICITER Stus. GEORGIUS
DE BOCHERVILLA;
DEO GRATIAS.

* * * *
*

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Histoire de la Haute Normandie,
II. p. 266. VOL. II.]

[Footnote 2: Ann. Benedict. III.
p. 674, 675.—­This charter was not among
the archives of the monastery; but I am informed by
M. Le Prevost, that several are still in existence,
most of them granted by the family of the founder,
but some by Kings of England. One of the latter
is by Richard Coeur de Lion, and his seal of red wax
still remains appended to it, in fine preservation.
The seal, on one side, represents the king seated
upon his throne, with a pointed beard, having his crown
on his head, and a sword in one hand, and sceptre
in the other: on the other side, he is on horseback,
with his head covered with a cylindrical helmet, surmounted
with a very remarkable crest, in the form of a fan:
on his shield are plainly distinguishable the three
lions of England.—­From among the charters
granted by the Tancarville family, M. Le Prevost has
sent me copies of two which have never yet been printed;
but which appear to deserve insertion here. One
is from Lucy, daughter of William de Tancarville,
and grand-daughter of Ralph, the chamberlain.—­“Notum
sit Ricardo de Vernon and Willelmo Camerario de Tancarvilla,
et veteribus et juvenibus, quod Lucia, filia Willelmi,
Camerarii de Tancarvilla, pro anima sua et pro animabus
antecessorum suorum, ad ecclesiam Sti. Georgii
de Bauchervilla dedit molendinum de Waldinivilla,
quod est subter aliud molendinum et molendinum de
Waldinval, libere et quiete, et insuper ecclesiam de
Seonvilla, salva elemosina Roberti sacerdotis in vita
sua, si dignus est habendi eam. Et post mortem
Willelmi capellani sui de Sancto Flocello, ad ecclesiam
supra dictam dedit decimam de vavassoribus de Seolvilla,
quam dedit in elemosina habendam Willelmo capellano
tota vita bene et in pace et secure, et decimas de
custodiis totius terre sue que est in Constantino.—­Ego